Gym Circuits - good idea?

[Ninapod]

I manage my fibromyalgia through pacing and exercise so I swim, walk, run and do AquaFit. I have recently also tried to include pilates or yoga for stretching as well. However these classes have been cancelled and there is now a gym circuits class which I have done twice. It has caused me so much pain in my knees and lower back (where I also have osteo arthritis) - I only use the lightest weights. I like to book classes so it will make me go rather than do nothing. Has anyone else had problems with this? I thought weight/resistance training was recommended! Thoughts?

[SpikeDinosaur]

Hi Ninapod,

I am so with you on needing something in the diary to encourage me to get to the gym.

I do a range of strength/resistance exercise classes. Like everything fibro related, sometimes it is great and other times it's a disaster.

I would recommend speaking to the instructor and letting them know. They won't be experts on your health conditions - you don’t even need to say what they are, just what causes you problems/pain. They will know how to reduce the intensity/impact. In the class I go to the instructor will recommend things like, exercise without any weight, slowing down, or changing the exercise to a less impactful one for your back. Now I'm used to the class I can swap stuff in and out myself. And some days I change loads, other days I will change nothing. Going is definitely better for me than not. And many people in the class are modifying their exercise for all sorts of reasons.

Hope you find the balance.

[Ninapod in reply to SpikeDinosaur]

Thanks for your reply. I know I am lucky to be able to do these things and sometimes I'm just not feeling it so it is a struggle. I will speak to the instructor again and hopefully sort a few things out.

[Cat00]

I do a lot of intense classes, cardio, weights combat etc. I find as long as I don't have long gaps in between classes the pain I get is helped by the warmup I do in the class the next day or by a swim. Overall I do get more pain but I'm so much stronger I think it's worth it and it's nice to feel normal even if I'm not really.

Although I don't bother telling the instructors because I always get carried away and end up do whatever everyone else does anyway 😁.

[Purplebluebell]

Fitness instructors should know about fibro and also how to modify exercise to suit your condition. It's part of the training. Getting stronger will help the pain believe me. It can be a slow process, good luck.

[LadyJoro]

Resistance training is recommended but circuit classes tend to be high paced which means form suffers.

Try doing the movements slower and without weight to start.

Also speak to the instructor, they can offer alternative exercises for those that may cause the pain.

[TheiaR]

Hi there. I totally get everything you’re saying.

Weights, resistance training, swimming and horse riding used to be a massive part of my life but I had to stop all of them because of the pain. It wasn’t until years later that I was diagnosed with fibro.

I think everyone responds to exercise differently. Try gentle weights but if the pain carries on, then it isn’t the exercise for you at the moment.

I find yoga helps ease my pain. Perhaps look for a class elsewhere?

Sending you relaxing vibes and positive energy. 💗

[Ninapod]

Thank you all for replying. It is so nice that you all understand and know where I 'm coming from! I will give the class another go (after speaking to the instructor!) and try some things without weights. I am an all or nothing type so that will be hard! I' ll keep you posted.

[Papagena]

Follow Nuffield Health on Facebook, or if you or anyone live close to one, ring them. They run joint pain classes, which are totally free, twice a week for 12 weeks, plus 12 weeks free access to the gym. They are graded exercises, the first time I went I thought I'd never manage, but I did, except later on I didn't do everything the others did. I really enjoyed the course, as did the others in the class, and I can thoroughly recommend it.

[Ninapod]

Thank you for this! I will try it! I did gym circuits again yesterday and tried to take it easy - lightest weights or no weights at all but my knees today are so painful. Doing some of the cool down stretches, I could feel (and hear!) my knee joints crunching and grinding - I'm worried I'm doing more harm than good - really painful when changing gear when driving. I'll let you know how I get on!